Conveyer mechanism for bread and the like



Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Z SHEETSSHEET I.

F. G. BIRD.

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR BREAD AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-7,1917.

F. G. BiRD.

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR BREAD AND THE LIKE.-

. APPLICATION FILED DEC-7.19174 1,321,784. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A TTORNE Y.

FRANK e. BIRD,

0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR BREAD AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 7, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. BIRD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Mechanism for Bread and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in conveying and delivery devices for use in bakeries or other establishments, which are used to deliver the loaves of bread or other articles either to packing and wrapping tables on which packing boxes are placed, or, directly into a delivery wagon. The present invention has been developed and is designed for use in bakeries where the loaves of bread are first wrapped by means of a suitable wrapping machine. Tlfey are thencounted by means of an attachment which is operated by the wrapping machine as they are moved into this machine. After the loaves are counted and wrapped, they are delivered to the conveyer, whichtransfers them to the packing boxes or delivery wagon, said conveyer preferably comprising a series of endless belts so arranged as to carry the articles as stated, either to a packing table, or, directly to a dehvery wagon, thus saving a large expense in the handling and delivering of the goods from the counting and wrapping machine to the wagon. At the present time the cost of counting and delivering bread to the packingboxes or wagon is expensive, slow and inaccurate. My invention has, therefore, as its ObJBCt, to overcome these objections incident to the manufacture of bread.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing the general arrangement of the wrapping machine, and the attachment for counting, also the conveyer mechanisms for transferring the wrapped loaves from the machine elther to the packing table or directly to the dellvery wagon.

Fig. 2 is a view representing the construction if considered in a plane onthebroken line 22 of Fig. 1, showing in full lines, the hanger devices for supporting the conveyer belts and in dotted outline, two of the loaves in transit.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Serial No. 205,925.

Fig. 3' is a detail view of the frame work at the right hand end of the conveyer mechanism which supports the rollers around which the conveyers pass; the devices for elevating the delivery end of the chute for directing the wrapped loaves or other articles directly into the wagon, or, conveying the loaves to the packing table.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the left hand end of the conveyer mechanism showing a packing table on which the loaves are delivered for packing in boxes and a portion of the return mechanism of the conveyer.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views showing the counting attachment that is operated by the wrapping machine.

Referring now to the drawings of the apparatus in detail:

1 designates a wrapping machine of suitable construction for placing and securing a wrapper around the article. In'the present invention the wrapping machine is designed for placing and securing a suitable paper about a loaf of bread. An operator supplies the loaves to the machine by placing them on an inwardly traveling conveyer 2 which carries the loaves upward into the machine as indicated by the arrow 3 (see Figs. 1 and 4). The wrapping mechanism is indicated as a whole by the numeral 4. As far as the present invention is concerned, the ordinary bread wrapping machine is employed and no novelty is, therefore, claimed for this part of the apparatus. After the loaves are wrapped, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5, they are carried upward toward the right as indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig. 4, which indicates the direction of travel of the endless conveyer 7. The loaves, as they leave the conveyer, pass between the oppositely and adjacently located strands of the belts 8 and 9, which belts pass over suitable rollers 10, 11, 13, 14, 16. The rollers 16 and 17 are provided with means for adjusting the tension of the belts 9 and 28 as indicated at 18 and 19. The belt conveyer 8 is driven by means of the pulley 20 and belt 21 that leads to a suitablesource of power, the pulley 20 being mounted on and connected to shaft 11. The endless conveyer 9 is operated by means of the pulley 22and belt 23, the pulley 22 28 is operated by means of the belt 28,-

which is secured to the shaft 28 Located adjacent to the roller 16 is a delivery chute 29 which is pivoted to the supporting frame work 30, at point 31 (see Fig. 3). Attached to the, forward end ofthe chute 29 is a hoisting cable. 32 whereby the chute 29 can be moved upward into the dotted line position 29. When this chute is in the full line position, the loaves of bread can pass to the delivery chutes 33 and 34, and then directly into the delivery wagon indicated at 35," Upon elevating the chute 29 into the dotted line position, the loaves 5 will fall onto the deflector piece 36, then downward on to the oppositely traveling conveyer 28, which returns the loaves to the packing table 37, by means of the chute 38. Pivotally supported above and extendingdownward into the chute 38are the freely swinging pendants 39, which serve to check the rapid descent of the loaves 5. As they leave the chute 38, they engage the chute 40, from which they are conveyed to the table 37. The chute34 is pivoted to the chute 33 and may be raised by means of the cable 41 into the dotted line position 42 when not in use.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, in which the wrapping machine is indicated, as before, by the numeral 1, 43 indicates a counting device of the usual construction, that is secured to the frame work of the machine. This device is operated by means of the arm 44 that carries a roller 45', which travels backand forth in the slot 46 of the bar 47. Attached to the arm 44 is an extensible spring 48, which is secured to the upright 49 of the pusher block 50 and to which the bar 47 is attached. Fig. 5 shows the block 50 moving the loaves 5 toward the wrapping machine as indicated at 51. As the loaves are pushed forward, the arm 44 is drawn by the spring 48 from the position shown in Fig.5 to that.shown in Fig. 6, whereby the counter 43 is operated. The block 50 is returned to its initial position, shown in Fig. 5, by means of a suitable connection with the wrapping machine. If desired, a second counter 52 may be located at the delivery end of the conveyer as indicated in Fig. 1, which counter is operated by the loaves as they slide down the chute 33, into the delivery wagon 35. In the movement of the loaves, the arm 53 is 0perated', which in turn operates the counter.

The counter 52 will indicate the true num berof, loaves, which are deliveredto the wagon, while the counter 43 indicates the number that passes through the wrapping machine, the difference of the two readings being the number on the conveyer belt in transit.

From this construction it will beseen that I have produced a counting, conveying and delivery mechanism for use in bakery establishments that will accurately count the loaves that are wrapped and, after wrap ping, convey them directly" to a conveyer, which transfers them to a delivery wagon. If desired, they may be transferred to a table for packing purposes.

What I claim is 1. In a conveyer and elevating mechanism, such as described, for bread or the like compressible articles and embodying an independent disconnected endless belt arranged in an inclined position, a second independent disconnected endless belt having a portion of its strands arranged in an inclined position and spaced therefrom a distance to supply suitable pressure to the articles for elevating the same, the second belt having extended horizontal strands for receivingthe articles as they emerge from the inclined passageway between the belts at their upper ends, means as a chute to re ceive the articles from the end of the second belt and to convey them to a suitable table comprising-t a third independent disconnected endless belt arranged below the second belt and travelin in the opposite direction to the second elt; for the purpose specified, and means including an inclined plate for directing the loaves of bread from the second belt to the third belt for the purpose described.

2. The combination with the delivery end of an endless belt conveyer for articles, of an endless belt below the conveyer for receiving the articles as they are discharged from the conveyer, means located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyer for receiving the articles for directing them into a suitable receptacle or for permitting them to fall on to the endless belt when the said means is elevated and a deflecting plate below said means and between the ends of the conveyer and belt for the purpose specified.

3. A conveyer mechanism for bread or the like compressible articles and comprising, in combination, a belt having its strands arranged in an inclined position, a second belt having a portion of its strands arranged in an inclinedposition and the remaining portion arranged in a horizontal position, the inclined portions of the second belt being coincident in length with the strands of the first belt and spaced therefrom in parallel relation thereto and at a distance for com pressing the loaves of bread to grip the same for conveying them upward on to the upper horizontal strand of the second belt, a third belt having its strands arranged in a horizontal position and below the horizontal strands of the second belt and coextensive in length therewith, the receiving end of the third belt being extended beyond the delivery end of the second belt to receive the loaves as they are discharged therefrom, means for driving the third belt in the opposite direction to the second belt to convey the bread to a Wrapping table, means for operating the belts, and means to convey the loaves to the inclined belts and away from the delivery end of the third belt, as described.

FRANK Gr. BIRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

